The alto saxophone is in E♭: it sounds a major sixth lower than written, so a plain chromatic tuner shows your written G as B♭. This alto sax tuner opens with the E♭ transposition on, adds those nine semitones back and shows the note you are reading, with a needle and cents.
Baritone sax is also in E♭ but sounds an octave below the alto: choose E♭ + octave in the Transposition menu so the octave number matches too. For tenor or soprano, open the tenor sax tuner.
How to use it
- Play for a minute to warm up, then tap Turn on microphone.
- Play your tuning note with a relaxed, full sound: concert B♭ is your written G, concert A is your written F♯.
- Needle left (flat): push the mouthpiece further onto the cork. Needle right (sharp): pull it out a little.
- Check a low note and its octave. If the upper one is sharp, loosen your embouchure before moving the mouthpiece again.
The mouthpiece is your tuning slide
Saxophones have no tuning slide: you tune by sliding the mouthpiece along the neck cork. Pushing it in shortens the instrument and raises the pitch; pulling it out lowers it. Grease the cork so it moves smoothly, and mark the right spot with a pencil. Biting raises the pitch, especially in the upper register, so tune with the same relaxed embouchure you play with.
Tips
- Tune after warming up: a cold sax plays flat.
- Move the mouthpiece a couple of millimeters at a time, then play again.
- Practice long tones with the tuner to learn which notes on your horn lean sharp or flat.
Frequently asked questions
Why does the tuner say B♭ when I play G on alto sax?
Normal tuners show concert pitch and the alto sounds a major sixth lower than written. This page adds the sixth back, so your written G reads as G.
Which note should alto sax tune on?
Usually written G (concert B♭) or written F♯ (concert A). Check one low and one high note too.
Do I push the mouthpiece in or pull it out?
Flat: push in. Sharp: pull out.
Can I tune a baritone sax with this?
Yes. Baritone sax is in E♭ too, but it sounds an octave below the alto: choose E♭ + octave in the Transposition menu and both the letter and the octave will match your part.
Why is my alto sharp in the upper register?
Usually a tight embouchure or too much mouthpiece in the mouth. Relax the jaw and play long tones.